Le Sulk II? Yaya Sanogo can be Arsenal's next Nicolas Anelka

PROGRESS: Wenger believes Sanogo can play a vital role for the Gunners this season [GETTY]

The French striker, 21, started against Champions League holders Bayern Munich in their midweek clash, and has impressed many Gunners fans in his handful of outings for the club.

Anelka joined Arsenal as an unknown entity in 1997 before joining Real Madrid for over £20million two years later, and Wenger believes Sanogo is also capable of springing a surprise on the footballing world.

He claimed: "When I started to play Anelka, everybody said: 'Why are you starting with Anelka, why not buy a striker?'"

"We won a championship with him. If we feel they are ready, then they play.

"There's potential there. Sanogo is world champion of the Under-20s.

STAR: Anelka became one of the world's hottest properties during his time at Arsenal [GETTY]

He did not look out of place in the two games he played

Arsene Wenger

"If he was an English centre-forward and was world champion, you would not ask me these questions.

"We look at the quality of the performance of the player. He did not look out of place in the two games he played."

Wenger also admits that troubled striker Olivier Giroud has "hit a brick wall", but believes the French international will soon return with all guns blazing.

"Recently he's been a bit less fresh and it's shown in his game," Wenger noted.

"I am not worried for Giroud. His head is in the right place. He's always mentally focused.

"He's a great player. He is a great fighter as well. He has been successful until now, during this season he's player a big part in it."